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Build Your Own Rocket
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In the panel to the right you'll see a spacecraft consisting of a 10 tonne payload (the pointy bit, containing the thing we want to launch) and a 10 tonne propulsion unit, consisting of a chemical rocket. It stands on the surface of the moon.

  1. Launch. What happens? What do you think "escape velocity" means?
  2. How can the propulsion unit be modified in order to achieve escape velocity? (Don't change any other settings such as the 'payload mass'.)
  3. What's the minimum fuel consumption needed to achieve escape velocity (again, only modify the propulsion unit)? Does this correspond to the best design, in your view?

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